Breaking News!

USGBC Will Change its Wood Certification Requirements

Click HERE for details.

• Survey Says: Dealers Are Slowly Getting Greener, but Skepticism Persists

  In March 2009, PROSALES magazine conducted an online survey of LBM dealers, distributors, and manufacturers regarding the state of the green construction movement in their communities as well as whether they had taken action to green their own operations. The Survey indicates dealers are getting more active in green issues, even though a significant number say there’s little demand to do so. A small majority of dealers responding to the nationwide, online poll said they’re getting asked more often these days about green, but 41% still categorize interest in their area as nonexistent or barely there. To check out how dealer responses from our area compared to the rest of the nation, click HERE.

• The Many Shades of Green

With all the buzz on all things green, most of us now understand the basic concept. But do any of us know exactly what “green building” means, and do we have answers for the questions our customers are asking? Click HERE for full article.

What the Experts Say –

Dovetail Partners is a nonprofit organization that fosters sustainability and responsible behaviors by collaborating to develop unique concepts, systems, models and programs. Jim L. Bowyer, Professor Emeritus, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota; President, Bowyer & Associates, Inc. – a wood science and bioenergy consulting firm; and Director, Responsible Materials Program, Dovetail Partners, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, explains what’s all this means to our industry and our region. The following articles were authored by Dr. James Bowyer. Biomass Energy – An Emerging Opportunity for the Forest and Agricultural Sectors A marked shift toward greater use of renewable energy is underway. A key element of renewable energy development is biomass, which today provides about one-half of renewable energy generation nationwide. To balance societal needs for renewable, less polluting energy sources with desires for healthy and diverse forests, one approach taken in Minnesota was the development of “Biomass Harvesting Guidelines.” Click HERE for full article. Green Building Programs, Are They Really Green? This article examines and explains the many different green building programs. The author, Jim L. Bowyer, is Professor Emeritus, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota; President, Bowyer & Associates, Inc. – a wood science and bioenergy consulting firm; and Director, Responsible Materials Program, Dovetail Partners, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota. Click HERE for full article.

• The NLBMDA Outlook

   

1. IS THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG? - Op/Ed by Valerir R. Hansen, LBMI Trustee

Today our industry is experiencing the most significant housing downturn in at least a generation. We’re also at the threshold of a new era in American home building, one that will spin off new construction methods, new materials, and require a new attention to process – or a return of old-fashioned craftsmanship. It’s time for lumber dealers, truss manufacturers, and the ALSC to take the leadership in establishing an eco-standard for dimensional lumber. CLICK HERE FOR REST OF ARTICLE

2. LBMI Formal Request to the ALSC 

The Lumber and Building Materials Institute (LBMI), the research and education foundation of the NLBMDA, and the LBMI Green Building Council, respectfully request the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) to adopt a new eco-forest management standard, accredit agencies to certify the standard, and establish a corresponding eco-label (grade stamp). CLICK HERE FOR REST OF ARTICLE

• Green Links

Click HERE for links to other sustainble building web sites and certification links.

• FSC-Certified Suppliers

Click HERE to view a list of companies that have notified NLA that they have received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certification.

• Green Education

“Certified Green Dealer™” Program

The NLA is pleased to announce a new program available to NLA members! The new “Certified Green Dealer™” program is designed to train, test, and certify the nation’s lumber and building material dealers on green building techniques and green products. Check out the ad below, or click HERE for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garden Grades  

The garden grades, Deck Heart,
Construction Heart, Deck Common, Construction Common, Merchantable Heart and Merchantable, are offered seasoned or unseasoned. They are frequently specified for decks, fences and garden structures where knots or other characteristics have little or no effect.
       

All Heartwood
     

Construction Heart/Deck Heart
A heartwood grade containing knots of varying sizes and other slight imperfections. Available seasoned or unseasoned. This highly useful grade can be ordered surfaced or rough. Deck Heart has similar appearance and uses as Construction Heart but is also graded for strength. Deck Heart is available in 2×4 and 2×6 only.

Uses Decks, posts, retaining walls, fences, garden structures, stairs or other outdoor uses in contact with the ground.
               

Merchantable Heart
This economical heartwood grade allows slightly larger knots than construction grades; holes limited to size of knots. Allows checks, some splits and some manufacturing flaws. Available unseasoned, surfaced or rough.

Uses Fences, retaining walls, garden structures or other outdoor uses in contact with the ground.
       
Heartwood and Sapwood
   
 

Construction Common/Deck Common
Same general characteristics as Construction Heart, but contains combination of heartwood and sapwood. Unseasoned or seasoned, it can be surfaced or rough. Deck Common is also graded for strength and is available in 2×4 and 2×6 only.

Uses Decking, fence boards and other above-ground garden uses that do not require heartwood’s insect and decay resistance.
               

Merchantable
Has same characteristics as Merchantable Heart but contains sapwood in varying amounts. This economical grade is available unseasoned and can be ordered surfaced or rough.

Uses Fence boards, rails and other above-ground outdoor and garden uses. Also subflooring and temporary construction.

Architectural Grades  

The architectural grades, Clear All Heart, Clear, Heart Clear, Heart B and B Grade, are normally sold kiln dried (preshrunk and stress free) for the finest exterior and interior architectural uses. No other wood equals these finish grades in beauty and dimensional stability. They are the choice grades for siding, paneling, trim and cabinetry where attractiveness and tight joinery are desired.
       
All Heartwood
     

Clear All Heart
Finest architectural heartwood grade, normally Certified Kiln Dried (also available unseasoned), well manufactured, free of defects one face (reverse) face may have slight imperfections). Available surfaced or saw-textured.

Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry, molding, fascia, soffits, millwork. Also fine decks, hot tubs, garden structures, industrial storage and processing tanks.

Heart B
Quality heartwood grade containing limited knots and other characteristics not permitted in Clear All Heart and Heart Clear. Available kiln dried or unseasoned. This grade can be surfaced or saw-textured.

Uses Siding, paneling, trim, fascia, molding and other architectural uses. Quality decking, garden shelters and other outdoor uses in contact with the ground.

Heartwood and Sapwood
     

Clear
Same general quality as Clear All Heart
except contains sapwood in varying
amounts. Some imperfections not
permitted in Clear All Heart. Normally
Certified Kiln Dried (also available
unseasoned). Available surfaced or
saw-textured.

Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry,
molding, fascia, soffits. Also quality
decking, garden shelters and other
above-ground applications.

B Grade
Quality grade containing sapwood, limited knots and other characteristics not permitted in Clear. Certified Kiln Dried; also unseasoned. Available surfaced or saw-textured.

Uses Siding, paneling, trim, fascia, molding and other architectural uses; quality decking, garden shelters and other above-ground outdoor applications.

Surface Textures
Saw Textured The saw textured surface, obtained during the milling process which uses either circular or band saws, is present on all four sides.

Rougher Headed The lumber receives its texture from a milling process which uses roughened planer knives. The rough texture is clearly visible on all four sides.

Surfaced Four Sides (S4S) The smooth surface on all four sides presents a uniformly sized product with a high quality appearance. Sizes from 2×4 (51mm x 102mm) up to 6×6 in. (152mm x 152mm) are generally available. Larger sizes are produced on special orders.

Grade	Description
No. 2 and Better Clear
	This grade should be specified when the finest quality rough lumber is desired. The lumber is sound and well manufactured. Its natural characteristics do not detract from the woods fine appearance. Grading Rule Paragraph Export R List 401
D and Better Clear
	This grade consists of D Clear, C Clear, and B Clear. The C and Better Clear grade offers good appearance in high quality, well manufactured lumber. Suitable for high quality landscape structures and as exposed posts and beams in heavy timber construction. WRCEA members produce this grade without cut-outs. In most cases, this grade is sold with a specified allowance of D grade. D Clear grade permits larger and more numerous natural characteristics which are widely accepted in the construction of outdoor structures. Some pieces of D Clear may require trimming to yield clear lengths for the intended use. Available surfaced or rough textured.
Appearance Knotty
	A non structural product manufactured to meet the appearance requirements of quality projects. This material has highly restricted wane allowances to give well defined corners. Contains no holes or other characteristics. Represents good value for appearance end uses. Available rough sawn or rougher headed in nominal 2″ (51mm) and thicker sizes. Note: Upon request, Appearance Knotty timbers are available with structural grading. Be certain to specify Appearance Knotty structural lumber when strength characteristics are required. Grading Rule Paragraph Proprietary
No. 2 and Better Structural
	Material of this grade is evaluated for structural strength characteristics. The classification includes pieces meeting the grades of Select Structural, No. 1 Structural, and No. 2 Structural. Lumber of this grade is intended for engineered applications where strength is more important than appearance. Available surfaced or rough textured.

With 100% financing from the Bank of America, a nonprofit conservation group has purchased 50,000 acres of redwood forest along the Mendocino County coast north of Fort Bragg for $65 million and plans to use it for commercial timber harvesting while shielding the land from development.

“We know that this property without protection would have been subdivided into smaller parcels,” Art Harwood, a sawmill operator and president of the Redwood Forest Foundation, told reporters Thursday in the redwood grove outside the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco. “Every year in the U.S., millions of acres of forest are bought and sold, and the pressure is particularly high in Northern California.”

Bank and foundation officials said the deal is the first of its kind that relies entirely on private financing.

However, much of the debt is to be paid through the sale of a conservation easement to another nonprofit group that plans to seek state funding.

Harwood said the land, acquired from Hawthorne Timber Co., was heavily logged in the 1980s and ’90s and now consists primarily of second-growth redwood and Douglas fir. “There are a few old-growth trees scattered out there, but we will not be cutting them,” he said.

Foundation officials said they plan to do very little logging at first, and never on more than 3% of the property a year to ensure a long-term supply of jobs and timber. The Redwood Forest Foundation, which is dedicated to restoring working forests, plans to use logging revenue to help pay off the 20-year loan.

The foundation, based in the southern Mendocino County town of Gualala, intends to sell the conservation easement to the Conservation Fund, which plans to use state money approved by voters last year in Proposition 84, the clean water, parks and coastal bond measure.

“We haven’t negotiated the cost of the easement and the terms,” said Chris Kelly, who manages California operations for the fund. “But our intention is to have an agreement allowing no subdivision, development or conversion to non-forest uses, and possibly there will be a cap on harvesting.”

The land is north of Fort Bragg and about 50 miles north of two other parcels purchased recently by the Conservation Fund.